Psychological Disturbance In Adolescence

The twenty years since the publication of Psychological Disturbance in Adolescence has witnessed enormous growth in our understanding of developmental psychopathology in adolescence. At the same time many inroads have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disturbance occurring in adolescence. As a consequence, this book, while following the original format of its highly successful predecessor, has been largely rewritten to reflect those changes and to insure that it retain its place as the preeminent text and professional reference. Summarizing this latest edition of Psychological Disturbance in Adolescence, Irving B. Weiner has said that: "This book is not about theory, although contemporary conceptual issues in developmental psychopathology are discussed throughout. This book is not about research, although available empirical data bearing on the topics being considered are presented throughout. What this book is about is how clinicians can do the best possible job of recognizing abnormal psychological development in an adolescent, identifying what kind of disturbance is present, and selecting effective methods of helping the young person overcome the problem". As in the earlier edition, the first two chapters offer a detailed survey of current theoretical issues in adolescent psychology, normality, abnormality in adolescence, and patterns of adolescent psychopathology. Also covered in these chapters are key issues of assessment, classification, and epidemiology. The remainder of the book, with the exception of the last chapter, is organized from the perspective of the practicing clinician and consists of chapters covering problems in adolescent patients, includingschizophrenia, depression and suicide, school phobia, delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and more. The final chapter of Psychological Disturbance in Adolescence, Second Edition illustrates the principles of psychotherapy with disturbed adolescents. The discussion considers the goals of adolescent psychotherapy; aspects of initiating, building, and terminating the treatment; and the role of the parents in the psychotherapeutic process. Thoroughly updated to reflect contemporary practice and theory, this classic work in the field of adolescent psychology is an indispensable addition to the reference library of every practicing clinician. It is also an excellent graduate-level text for students of clinical and abnormal psychology.